LONGMONT -- The women of First United Methodist Church in Longmont are supporting victims of sex trafficking with a bra drive this spring.

More than 470 bras have been collected since March 20, the first day of the Spring Sling, said organizer Catherine Murphy.

"We wanted to raise awareness of sex trafficking, an issue that I don't think a lot of people realize is a real problem here and around the world," Murphy said. "We do a lot of raising money for different charities, but we wanted to do something with a little more body this time."

The drive is just one of the church's efforts to become a staple in the Longmont and surrounding communities, said pastor Dave Lillie.

In September, the church revived its mission, encouraging members to go out into the community and make an impact, a campaign the church is calling The Heart of Longmont. The Spring Sling is one of the congregation's efforts to contribute, Lillie said.

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Donations will go to Denver-based organization Free the Girls, which provides job opportunities to women in Africa who have been rescued from sex trafficking.

Free the Girls provides women who don't have the education to get traditional jobs with 100 bras to sell in secondhand clothing markets. Once the women have sold their first batch, they can buy new inventory at below-market prices from Free the Girls to continue supporting their families.

Volunteer and United Methodist Women member Marty Allison sorts and packs donated bras, Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at First United Methodist Church in Longmont. 466 bras were collected to be donated.
(Matthew Jonas/Times-Call)
(
Matthew Jonas
)

Organization co-founder Kimba Langas said the group hopes to provide a safe and sustainable solution for the women they help.

So far, the organization has helped 20 women start their businesses with plans to expand pilot programs to Uganda, Mexico, El Salvador and Kenya.

Langas will be presenting the story of the organization and information about sex trafficking at First United Methodist Church in Longmont at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The event is free and open to the public, but organizers are asking everyone to bring a used bra to donate.

Murphy said the United Methodist Women have information about sex trafficking and organizations across the state but haven't done any fundraisers with those groups until now.

"What got my attention is how horrendous it is," Murphy said. "The thought that these women are being put in a position where they have no choice but to buy themselves out of something they never wanted to get into."

Bras and sex trafficking aren't something most might expect to see a church take on, Murphy said, but she's hoping the drive will attract some attention.

"People need to know about these things that are ugly," Murphy said. "We don't want to tippy-toe around stuff but to come out and say it directly to move people."

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